What it is folks?! So far what an incredible year of music for 2022. When you look back on highly acclaimed years within this century, years such as 2015, 2017, and 2018 all started this great and ended up being among the best years of all-time. Just based off efforts such as Kendrick Lamar, Quelle Chris, Benny The Butcher, and Pusha T alone has people putting this year in the record books already. before we start predicting the rest of the year, let's go over twenty of the best albums so far this year. With that said, let's go!
20. Snoop Dogg
Bacc On Death Row (BODR)
Production: Battlecat, Hi-Tek, Nottz, Don Cannon, Hit-Boy, Green Lantern, Soopafly, Bink!, others
Guests: Nas, T.I., The Game, Wiz Khalifa, Dababy, Nate Dogg, others
The ever legendary Snoop D-O-double G is among the most prolific stars in the business. He has more than earned his place as legend and icon of hip-hop and still has the same amount of youthful enthusiasm for hip-hop as he did when he dropped his equally legendary debut, Doggystyle, back in '93. Now with his nineteenth studio album, BODR, or Bacc On Death Row, the new executive for Def Jam Records also now owns his former label, the infamous Death Row Records, and shows just about the same ferocity and focus as he did during his Doggystyle sessions. Following up his very impressive compilation album, Algorithm, this effort contains board work from east coast heavyweights such as Nottz and Bink! while also bringing in west coast juggernauts such as Hit-Boy and Battlecat, with the excellent return of the Natti's almost forgotten about production wizard, Hi-Tek. Along with guests such as Nas, Game, and a posthumous appearance from the late Nate Dogg, Snoop is focused yet having fun as well letting this and every other generation understand he's not going anywhere anytime soon and his O.G. status is much deserved.
19. Saba
Few Good Things
Production: artist, daedaePIVOT, Phoelix, others
Guests: Krayzie Bone, PIVOT Gang, 6LACK, Smino, Black Thought, others
Chicago's Saba delivered one of the best albums in the entire 2010 decade with 2018's incredibly dense yet therapeutic, Care For Me. The album explored anxiety, depression, and the challenge to move on and find a future within his life in spite of the dark clouds over him. With his follow-up, Few Good Things, he finds more life and has more energy than before, yet still manages to keep things in perspective in terms of appreciating the things in life that really matter. Definitely not as brooding or as heavy as Care For Me, the album is still, however, every bit as melodic and each track provides a lot of intrigue. With appearances from the likes of Black Thought to another legend in Krayzie Bone, Saba is establishing himself more and more as a young star to keep our eyes on. Cuts like "If I Had A Dollar" or "Stop That" are exemplary of his talent and helps define the example of what Few Good Things is all about.
18. Vince Staples
Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Production: Kenny Beats, DJ Dahi, DJ Mustard, Cardo, others
Guests: DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Baby, others
Long Beach emcee, Vince Staples, is regarded as one of the brightest emcees to emerge from the west within the past decade. His impressive debut, Hell Can Wait, showed the potential Vince had to become something special. Couple years later, he dropped his full length debut, Summertime '06, which showed Vince as the star we knew he could become. With No I.D. primarily behind the boards, Vince skated over those excellent beats from one of the best from Chicago. While other projects such as FM! and his most recent self-titled album dropped to mostly critical acclaim, here comes Ramona Park Broke My Heart, his fifth full-length album. With this album, he gets even more poignant, introspective and honest with standouts including "DJ Quik", "Player Ways", and the captivating ode of a relationship between a gun and its user, "When Sparks Fly". Vince continues to shine his ever glowing star and this album ranks among his absolute best efforts.
17. Cordae
From A Bird's Eye View
Production: Raphael Saadiq, Kid Culture, Hit-Boy, Jake One, Dem Jointz, Boi-1nda, Cardiak, others
Guests: Freddie Gibbs, Gunna, Stevie Wonder, Lil' Wayne, Eminem, Roddy Rich, H.E.R., Lil' Durk, Ant Clemons, others
NC born-Baltimore-raised Cordae got on people's radars while still with the YBN crew and put out his debut album, The Good Son in 2019. His boyish charm mixed with very apparent lyrical and songwriting talent put him in people's mouths as one to watch. Ditching YBN, he decided to become his own man and his own artist. With a maturity way ahead of contemporaries his age, the anticipation grew for his second album, and it finally dropped at the beginning of 2022, with From A Bird's Eye View. Every bit as fun and intriguing of a listen as his debut, Cordae also provides more self-reflection and honesty throughout. Combining new school and old school styles and ways, Cordae gave us quite the excellent album that continues to shows his depth and range, which is important as an artist. This release will keep highlighting what he's capable of and his best work may still be yet to come.
16. Your Old Droog & Nicholas Craven
YOD Wave
Production: Nicholas Craven
Guests: Tha God Fahim, Mach-Hommy
Brooklynite Your Old Droog is among the prolific and hardest working emcees out here. He drops numerous projects per year and looks to be on the same wave. Speaking of "waves", Droog collaborated with Canadian producer Nicholas Craven to release YOD Wave. This is some of Nicholas Craven's best work, which is saying something considering how tremendous his production work is based on previous work with the likes of Ransom, RJ Payne, Fahim, Mach-Hommy and others. Droog's Nas-sounding comparisons continue to show up frequently on here, but he stays exhibiting his great penmanship and delivery throughout this EP. As of this writing, he just dropped YOD Stewart and once again show why he's among people's most intriguing emcees. With YOD Wave, Droog maintains his impressive streak of great projects.
15. DJ Muggs & Rigz
GOLD
Production: DJ Muggs
Guests: Mooch, Rob Gates, Meyhem Lauren, Rome Streetz, others
The legendary DJ Muggs has been on a career roll over the past few years, collaborating with the likes of Flee Lord, Rome Streetz, Planet Asia, Mach-Hommy, and Meyhem Lauren among others with excellent full length projects. So far, he has only delivered one full length project, but it's a crazy one. This time, he assists Rochester, NY emcee, Rigz, who represents upstate collective, Da Cloth. Muggs, as usual, brings the best out of another emcee and through this album, Gold, Rigz paints a vivid and unsettling view of the streets that he has embraced and that have also embraced him. With sinister sounds from Muggs, it provides the perfect score for his lyrical illustrations. Rigz will soon no longer just be a slept on underground emcee. He and his Cloth collective will be among the lips of all hip-hop heads and this album is a step in the right and promising direction.
14. Action Bronson
Cocodrillo Turbo
Production: artist, The Alchemist, Daringer, Roc Marciano, others
Guests: Conway The Machine, Roc Marciano, Meyhem Lauren, Hologram
Queens emcee Action Bronson has shelled out a pretty decent discography over the past decade. The emcee/chef/author/new workout guru has been one of the more intriguing talents to come out of NY. Heads have been somewhat glued in to him since his debut, Dr. Lecter. Since then he has dropped good to great efforts such as his collaboration with Alchemist, Rare Chandeliers, Blue Chips, the damn good sequel Blue Chips 2, his major label debut, Mr. Wonderful, and the most recent Only For Dolphins. He now delivers his seventh full length album, Cocodrillo Turbo. Primarily produced by Alchemist and Daringer (save a couple of tracks produced by himself), this is Action in his most focused in some years. Lyrically, Bronson is hungry (no pun intended) and within the album, this is a very cohesive project. Assisted by the likes of Meyhem Lauren and Conway The Machine, Bronson has delivered arguably his best work in a minute and here's to hoping we get more of the Bronson to come.
13. Fly Anakin
Frank
Production: artist, Evidence, Madlib, Sycho Sid, Like, Lastnammedavid, others
Guests: Henny L.O., Billz Egypt, Big Kahuna O.G., Pink Siifu
One of the undergrounds more bubbling crews is the Mutant Academy. Hailing from the DMV, the crew consisting of Koncept Jackson, Big Kahuna O.G., Henny L.O., and Fly Anakin is a dope crew of emcees and producers (Sycho Sid, Unlucky Bastards, Ewonee) that have made noise for some years. After dropping some mixtapes and EPs over the years, Anakin drops his solo debut, Frank, and this cat dropped a damn good debut on us. With beats that range from grimy to soulful, Anakin delivers talent and foresight all on this album. With beat work from the likes of Madlib, Evidence, and in-house producers Sycho Sid and Lastnamedavid, Anakin provides his unique mic abilities to create quite the impressive debut solo album.
12. EarthGang
Ghetto Gods
Production: Olu, 1500 Or Nothin', STLNdrums, Grandma, Phoelix, others
Guests: Cee-Lo, Nick Cannon, Musiq Soulchild, J.I.D., J. Cole, Ari Lennox, Future
ATL representatives, EarthGang, is a very unique, yet highly talented duo. These Dreamville signees have amassed a great discography even before the major label. The duo of WowGr8 and Olu have been compared to a younger Big Boi and Andre 3000, and with albums like their 2022 offering, Ghetto Gods, it's not hard to see why. Capitalizing from their previous effort, Mirrorland, they grab various musical stylings from jazz to funk to psychadelic to reggae and they bring forth a world that struggles to maintain in the midst of subjects such as poverty, injustice, and mental illness. More melancholy than their previous works, this is an inward look at how the ills of the world has taken its toll on our psyche as a culture. while the whole album isn't this dark and serious, moments such as "All Eyes On Me" and "Strong Friends" are very poignant and become more moody. With Ghetto Gods, EarthGang continue to evolve into very essential and necessary for the southern hip-hop scene. Although they're still quite far away from the god-level of Outkast, they're also a much needed light, lyrically and talent-wise that made those ATLiens such stars in the first place.
11. Quelle Chris
DEATHFAME
Production: artist, Chris Keyz, Knxwledge
Guests: Denmark Vessey, Pink Siifu, Cavalier, Navy Blue, others
Eccecntric Detroit rhymer, Quelle Chris, has an underappreciated discography. A great rhymer and an equally great writer and producer, the hubby of fellow rhyme animal, Jean Grae, has amassed dope left-brained albums such as Niggas Is Men, Ghost At The Finish Line, Innocent Country, Guns, and his most recent Innocent Country 2. Some of his albums have had poignant overall themes with them. His album, Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often focused on self acceptance, while Guns was focused on gun violence and obsession with guns. With his latest, DEATHFAME, Chris focuses on the pitfalls of popularity and stardom. Part satire, part serious, it blends a melancholy aura with tongue-in-cheek humor. Production-wise, this is among his best efforts. Plenty of jazzy elements thanks mostly to himself and frequent collaborator, Chris Keyz, this is not a blissful, sunshine-sparking album. Nonetheless, Quelle Chris has delivered another excellent album done as only he can do, and does it with precise appeal. He has not failed yet.
10. Curren$y & The Alchemist
Continuance
Production: The Alchemist
Guests: Havoc, Wiz Khalifa, Styles P, Boldy James, Larry June
Whenever you mention N'Awlin's Curren$y and his lengthy discography, many tend to mention his collaborations with arguably the most prolific producer in hip-hop, The Alchemist. Their previous effort, Covert Coup, showed that Curren$y delivers some of his best vocal and lyrical talent through Alan Maman. Ranked among his best albums, the thirst was heavy for another collab was thick. We did in fact get this in 2022 in the form of Continuance. This is easily as great as, if not better than, Covert Coup. From stellar cuts like "Kool & The Gang" and the Boldy Jams-assisted "No Yeast", Spitta goes for his lyrically and once again shows that he needs to be mentioned among the best within the south, as we've already been aware of how much of a work ethic he has.
9. Earl Sweatshirt
SICK!
Production: The Alchemist, artist, Black Noi$e, others
Guests: Armand Hammer, Zeeloopers
The ever enigmatic yet tremendously talented, Earl Sweatshirt, brought forth his 2022 offering in the form of SICK! While it's not quite as macabre as I Don't Do Shit, I Don't Go Outside or as painfully personal as arguably his masterpiece, Some Rap Songs, this does have splatterings of his debut full-length album, Doris, as well as his last effort, Feet Of Clay. Personal, honest, introspective, and conflicting, Earl delves into his psyche over excellent production mostly from Black Noi$e. While we wait on the elusive project with hi m and The Alchemist, we will continue to enjoy any project from Earl because at this point, the former Odd Future standout can simply do no wrong.
8. Pusha T
It's Almost Dry
Production: Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, 88-Keyz, others
Guests: Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, No Malice, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, Lil Uzi Vert, Labyrinth, Don Tolliver
After the last couple of years of stating that he was constructing the album of his career, VA's own Pusha T finally delivered the goods with his new offering, It's Almost Dry. In the months leading up to the release, he also stated the album was the best of 2022. Was he correct? In many instances, he very well could be. Mr. Thorton sounds refreshed, hungry, and focused on this new release. While still delving into the coke rap arena, Pusha continues to make this arena sound good. With production help from Kanye and Pharrell (Mr. Williams delivering some of his darkest and menacing production work to date here), Pusha T brought forth a slam dunk of an album that lives up to the hype for the most part. Very similar to previous albums of King Push: Darkest Before Dawn, My Name Is My Name, and his most recent effort, the outstanding DAYTONA, Pusha elevates his lyrical game and sounds like the confident veteran that keep showing these rookies out here he's among the true blueprints of the generation.
7. Black Star
No Fear Of Time
Production: Madlib
Guests: Black Thought
It's been 24 years since we last saw Brooklyn's dynamic duo, Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) and Talib Kweli as Black Star and crafting music. Their debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, is highly considered a hip-hop classic in practically every circle imaginable. Cuts like "Brown Skin Lady", "Thieves In The Night", and "Twice Inna Lifetime" became part of hip-hop's consciousness at that time and put themselves in conversation for best overall duos in the game, especially within underground circles. Since then, albums from both artists have been critically acclaimed and among some of the game's most triumphant releases. After much speculation, the duo reunited, along the production help of the legendary Madlib, to present No Fear Of Time. Constructed admittedly in hotel rooms while touring with limited resources, they pull off one hell of an album. Released through their podcast company, Luminary, one would imagine their subscriptions went up a ton just to get a peep of this excellent new album. Over exceptional Madlib production (he himself no stranger to either artist as he did Bey's famed cut from The Ecstatic "Auditorium" and did a whole effort with Kweli, Liberation), they recapture some of the magic that made them have such a following in the first place. Sure it doesn't quite the same as 25 years ago. It's not supposed to. It's 25 years ago. However, with No Fear Of Time, Black Star indeed does stay shining.
6. Denzel Curry
Melt My Eyez, See Your Future
Production: Robert Glaspar, Karreim Riggins, Kenny BEats, DJ Khalyl, Dot Da Genius, JPEGMAFIA, Kal Bankx, Thundercat
Guests: Robert Glaspar, 6LACK, J.I.D., Rico Nasty, Saul Williams, Bridgett Perez, Karreim Riggins, others
Florida's Denzel Curry has quite the following over the years since his full length debut, Nostalgic 64, that put him officially on the map. Since then, efforts like Imperial, Zuu, and Unlocked with sought after beatmaker, Kenny Beats have further etched his name into being among the most popular young southern rappers out here today. His brand of street rap mixed with honest introspection tends to make him a standout among his peers as it is. He goes next level with his 2022 offering, Melt My Eyez, See Your Future, as he varies with different styles and genres on this release. Definitely more of an adult vibe then previous works, he collaborates with the likes of acclaimed Detroit drummer/producer Karreim Riggins, Grammy Award winning jazz pianist/producer Robert Glaspar, and T-Pain among many others. More ambitious than any effort he's done, he's a lot more introspective and personal than any of his previous efforts as well. Curry displays more of a maturity than a lot of his contemporary peers with this album and here's to hoping for more albums that show more of he is apart from his stardom.
5. billy woods & Preservation
Aethiopes
Production: Preservation
Guests: Denmark Vessey, ELUCID, Quelle Chris, Boldy James, Breezely Brewin, El-P, others
One of the most intriguing emcees in the underground is NY's billy woods. Really gaining notoriety with his album, History Will Absolve Me, he started gaining more recognition with other efforts such as Known Unknowns, his highly acclaimed collab with producer Kenny Segal, Hiding Places, and Today, I Wrote Nothing. Of course he also shines alongside fellow emcee, ELUCID, as one half of highly acclaimed duo, Armand Hammer (their Alchemist-assisted album, HARAM, was one of the single best albums of 2021). He now shows up in 2022 with another producer-assisted alum. This time with Preservation (previously worked with the likes of Roc Marciano, Ka, Yasiin Bey, Aesop Rock and others) and he delivers Aethiopes. His style of unorthodox lyricism meets non-stop almost spoken word poetry-like delivery has him painting bleak views of society and social structures over Preservations minimalist yet atmospheric production. Masterfully an abstract emcee of the highest caliber, woods has once again knocked out an incredible piece of work that can be argued as his best.
4. Conway The Machine
God Don't Make Mistakes
Production: Daringer, The Alchemist, Hit-Boy, Beat Butcha, Bink!, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, others
Guests: Jill Scott, T.I., Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, Keisha Plum, Novel, Beanie Sigel, Rick Ross, Lil' Wayne, Lxvedagenius, Jae Skeeze
One of the cornerstones of Griselda has been Conway The Machine. The buffalo emcee has played as crucial of a role to Griselda's ascent as his brother and cousin (Gunn and Benny respectively). His discography is near flawless and his last effort, From King To A God, was as hard-hitting of an album as you could get from The Machine in 2020. However, when it was announced that Gunn and Conway would have one album deals through Shady Records, heads were immediately intrigued to what would come from them. Conway often stated this was the album of his career, and with God Don't Maker Mistakes, he has just that on his hands. As great as the aforementioned From King To A God was, this is even better than that. Way more personal and introspective than anything he's ever done, this is the most complete effort Conway has delivered and serves as arguably the best (or at least top 2 or 3 albums) within the entire Griselda discography. Over crazy production from the likes of Alchemist, Hit-Boy, Daringer, Bink and Beat Butcha, Conway has officially arrived with this album.
3. Benny The Butcher
Tana Talk 4
Production: Daringer, The Alchemist
Guests: Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, J. Cole, Diddy, 38 Spesh, Boldy James, Stove God Cook$
Staying on the Griselda train, Benny The Butcher has emerged as the star of GXFR. His 2019 offering, Tana Talk 3 was compared to a new generation Reasonable Doubt, and for good reason. A modern classic that further propelled Griselda to more critical acclaim, the pressure was on to deliver hard with the 4th installment of the Tana Talk series. After dropping efforts such as his equally nuts EP, The Plugs I Met, his Hit-Boy collaboration, Burden Of Proof, his collab with Harry Fraud, and The Plugs I Met 2, the time had come to work on Tana Talk 4. Does it measure up to his exceptional street classic, TT3? Damn right it does. With Daringer and Alchemist providing all the boardwork here, this is a menacing project filled with street narrative, coke-laced rhymes and occasional personal stories of him struggles. As focused as ever to help Griselda take over the entire game, Benny is the rightful star of the crew, and who knows, he may also be the first to give Griselda its first Platinum plaque in the future. By all means, as he would say, for all up and coming street emcees, "The Butcher coming N**GA!"
2. Phife Dawg
Forever
Production: Dilla, Nottz, 9th Wonder, Khrysis, others
Guests: Redman, Illa J, Posdnous, Little Brother, Dwele, Rapsody, Darien Brockington, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Dwele, Lyric Jones, others
One of this generation's saddest passings was in the form of A Tribe Called Quest's beloved and revered "Funky Five Footer" Malik Taylor aka Phife Dawg. The legendary emcee unfortunately succumbed to complications related to his much publicized Diabetes in 2016. However, he left behind some material for his fans and thankfully his estate has much obliged to release his posthumous album, the long-awaited Forever, and it was absolutely worth the wait. This albums reeks of his incredible brilliance as an emcee. Over some simply fantastic production from the likes of 9th Wonder, Khrysis, and even a contribution from another late, great hip-hop icon, J Dilla, Phife shows such a grown man maturity on this release. As an elder statesman even before his death, his "Bust off on your couch, now you got Seamen's Furniture" as was on "Electric Relaxation" is replaced with God, family, love of his wife, and critiquing hip-hop as an artform and a culture. This could easily be a tearjerker of an album if this wasn't such a fire release. While your average posthumous release can be hit (Gangstarr's One Of The Best Yet, Big L's Big Picture) or miss (Biggie's Born Again), this could be considered one of the most complete posthumous hip-hop albums you'll ever come across. Long live the "Funky Five Footer".
1. Kendrick Lamar
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Production: Pharrell Williams, Sounwave, DJ Khalyl, DJ Dahi, Boi-1nda, Baby Keem, Beach Noise, The Alchemist, Bekon, others
Guests: Kodak Black, BLXST, Ghostface Killah, Summer Walker, Sampha, Taylour Paige, Beth Gibbons. Amanda Reifer, others
What can be said about Kendrick Lamar Duckworth that hasn't already been said about him? Visionary. Generational. GOAT of his generation. These would all accurately apply to him. From his very promising debut, Section.80, to his major label classic debut, good kid, M.A.A.D. City, to perhaps the greatest album of the 2010s, To Pimp A Butterfly, to the Pulitzer Prize winning follow-up DAMN, Kendrick subsequently can't lose. Anticipation has been at epic levels since DAMN, and when he announced his fifth album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, the frenzy started to happen. Once his promo single/video "The Heart Pt. 5" dropped, immediately we knew King Kendrick was back. Does it live up to the hype? Yes and then some. This double album divides between his dealing with his anxiety and depression points and his need to almost be a god-like savior to other people to examining his growth as a man even if going through tumultuous waters, this is as honest of an album as we've ever heard from him. While, at times, it's not an easy listen (the VERY controversial "We Cry Together"), it has moments of triumph and self-artistic/personal maturation. Seemingly, each album since good kid has showed him elevating as an artist and a man, conceptually and realistically. This is another album that will resonate, not just within our culture, but within music for decades to come.
Honorable Mentions
Czarface- Czarmageddon!
Che Noir- Food For Thought
RJ Payne- Beautiful Payne 4
RJ Payne- If Cocaine Could Talk 7
Ransom- No Rest For The Wicked
Nicholas Craven- N3
V-DON- Better Than $$$
RZA as Bobby Digital- Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater
Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim- Wolf Of Wall Street 2: The American Dream
Kid Abstrakt- Higher Vibration
Tha God Fahim- 6 Ring Champ
Elzhi & Georgia Anne Maldrow- Zhigeist
AJ Suede & Televengel- Metatron's Cube
Smoovth & Machacha- Subcriminal Thoughts
Termanology & Paul Wall- Start 2 Finish
IAMGAWD- Murder Castle
Elcamino & Camouflage Monk- Walk By Faith, Not By Sight
Jermaside- The Overview Effect
Bun B & Cory Mo- Mo Trill
At the time of this writing, albums from ELUCID, Lupe Fiasco, Westside Gunn and Logic hadn't dropped yet, but do understand, after peeping all their albums, they would be in top five for sure. Also stay tuned for projects from Nas, The Game, another Soul Assassins project from Muggs, Joey Bada$$, PRhyme, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, J.I.D., Freddie Gibbs, Rapsody, Lloyd Banks, the Griselda crew, and Cormega among many others That being said, this year has been thunderous as it is and it's exciting to see what's next in 2022. Stray tuned for more craziness!
